Anchor

ABSTRACT

An anchor comprising a shank, two main flukes, an auxiliary fluke, the main and auxiliary flukes being pivotally connected to the lower end of the shank with the pivot axis at right angles to the shank, the main flukes being in the form of flat plates, the extension of which in one direction substantially coincides with the pivot axis, the auxiliary fluke extending substantially in a plane parallel to the pivot axis and at right angles to the main flukes, and an abutment member displaceable and securable to different positions on the shank, the abutment member having abutment points adapted to cooperate with corresponding abutment points on the auxiliary fluke to effect different maximum angles of swinging of the main flukes with respect to the shank when the abutment member is displaced toward or away from the pivot axis.

United States Patent [191 Blomberg 1 ANCHOR [76] Inventor: Erling Blomberg, Vastergatan 3,

Goteborg, Sweden [22] Filed: May 15, 1973 [21] Appl. No.: 360,602

[52] U.S. Cl 114/208 R [51] Int. Cl B631) 21/44 [58] Field of Search 1 14/206 R, 207, 208 R, 1 14/208 A [56] References Cited UNlTED STATES PATENTS 2,511,286 6/1950 Millen 114/208 A 2,526,214 10/1950 Faraone 114/207 2.840.029 6/1958 Ogg 114/208 R 3,015,299 1/1962 Towne et a1. 114/208 R 3,021,812 2/1962 Swails 114/208 A 3,529,563 9/1970 Fast 14/208 R 3,771,486 ll/l973 Hungerford 114/208 R July 9,1974

Primary ExaminerTrygve M. Blix Assistant Examiner-Galen L. Barefoot [57 ABSTRACT An anchor comprising a shank, two main flukes, an auxiliary fluke, the main and auxiliary flukes being pivotally connected to the lower end of the shank with the pivot axis at right angles to the shank, the main flukes being in the form of flat plates, the extension of which in one direction substantially coincides with the pivot axis, the auxiliary fluke extending substantially in a plane parallel to the pivot axis and at right angles to the main flukes, and an abutment member displaceable and securable to different positions on the shank, the abutment member having abutment points adapted to cooperate with corresponding abutment points on the auxiliary fluke to effect different maximum angles of swinging of the main flukes with respect to the shank when the abutment member is displaced toward or away from the pivot axis.

5 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures ANCHOR One embodiment of the invention will be more fully described herebelow with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a side view of an anchor according to the invention;

FIG. 2 is a view from the right in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a view corresponding to FIG. 1 of the lower portion of the anchor with certain parts shown in section along the line III-III in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a side view corresponding to FIG. 2 with the anchor in position for transport and storage; and

FIG. 5 is a view from above in FIG. 4, the position of the main flukes in the position of use of the anchor being indicated in broken lines.

The anchor shown in the drawings has a shank l in the form of a flat iron provided in its upper end with a hole 2 for an anchor ring. At its lower end, the shank is provided with a transverse shaft 3 by means of which the shank carries two main flukes 4 and an auxiliary fluke 5. The main flukes have an extension in one direction which substantially coincides with the axis of the shaft 3, and the auxiliary fluke extends substantially in a plane parallel to said axis and thus at right angles to the main flukes. The auxiliary fluke 5 is in the form of a plate with upwardly bent edge portions 5a. Two sleeves 6 are welded to the upper side of the auxiliary fluke in a position extending substantially at right angles therefrom. The sleeves 6 are slotted at the sides facing away from one another and serve as guides for thickened .edge portions 4a on the main flukes 4, said edge portions substantially filling up the inner space of the sleeves. The shaft or pin 3 around which the shank may pivot with respect to the flukes is secured in an opening in the lower end portion of the shank by means of a locking pin 7. The. shaft 3 extends through bores in the walls of the sleeves and into recesses 8 in the edge portions 4a of the main flukes. The recesses 8 are made with a depth which allows the shaft 3 to be displaced in its axial direction. The sleeves 6 are spaced from one another considerably more than the thickness of the flat iron constituting the shank 1. Numeral 9 indicates an abutment member which is displaceable along the shank and adapted to be secured thereto by means of a bolt 10. The abutment member 9 is provided with abutment parts 9a which are laterally displaced along the pivot plane of the shank and relative to the center thereof, and which are adapted to cooperate with the upper side of the auxiliary fluke 5. The abutment member 9 comprises two pieces of flat iron, one on each side of the shank, and interconnected by means of two further pieces of flat iron which are bent at an angle to form the abutment parts 9a. In the position shown in full lines in FIG. 2, the abutment member 9 is so positioned, that the main flukes may be swung to form an angle a with-the shank of approximately 30. When the abutment member is in the position indicated in broken lines in FIG. 2, the main flukes may be swung to an angle B of about 50 with respect to the shank. In the latter position, the abutment member is slightly displaced in a direction away from the shaft 3. To make this adjustment possible, the sides of the abutment member are provided with a number of bolt openings 11 which may be brought to coincide with a corresponding hole in the shank, whereafter the abutment member is secured to the shank by means of the bolt 10. Obviously, it is also within the scope of the invention to provide the abutment member with only one bolt opening and the shank with several openings. The two side members 9b of the abutment member have such a thickness, that they substantially fill the space between the shank and the guide sleeves 6 and thus prevent lateral displacement of the shank and its shaft 3. In this displacement preventing position, illustrated in FIGS. 1 3, the flukes 4 are maintained in position by the shaft 3, the end portions of which extend into the recesses 8 in the flukes. After loosening of the bolt 10 and displacement of the abutment member 9 to a position above the guide sleeves 6, the shank together with the shaft 3 may be displaced to one side or the other. If the shank is displaced to the left according to FIG. 3, the right end of the-shaft 3 will be removed from the recess 8 in the right hand main fluke 4, so that the latter may be pulled out of its guide sleeve. Correspondingly, the left hand main fluke may be pulled out when the shank and the shaft are displaced to the right. Numeral 13 indicates supporting plates attached to the lower sides of the main flukes and having bent-around end portions abutting against the upper side of the auxiliary fluke. The main flukes are provided with thickened portions 4b for better stiffness. After the main flukes have been pulled out of their guides, they may be secured one to each side of the shank by means of the bolt 10 which is inserted through holes 12 in the flukes and corresponding holes in the abutment member 9 and the shank 1. In this position of the flukes the anchor consumes very little space which is of advantage during transport and storage.

In the position shown in full lines in FIG. 2, i.e., with the angle a equal to about 30, the anchor will be suited primarily for hard sand bottom, grass bottom, and hard clay bottom. In the position allowing the maximum angle [5' of about 50, the anchor will be suited primarily for shell-mixed clay and sand bottoms, for mud bottoms, stone-mixed sand bottoms, and all kinds of rock bottoms.

During anchoring, the auxiliary fluke serves as a brake and prevents the main flukes from plowing through a soft bottom. On a rock bottom, rapid anchoring is also facilitated by the auxiliary fluke which is apt to be arrested by a piece of rock or a fissure. The auxiliary fluke further serves to raise the back ends of the main flukes above the sea bottom, so that the points of the flukes will be directed downwardly as soon as the anchor hits the bottom. This ensures that the main flukes will engage the bottom as soon as the anchor wire or chain is made tight.

One advantage with the anchor according to the invention is that the various parts may be easily replaced when damaged.

The invention is not limited to the embodiment hereinbefore described and shown in the drawings. Various modifications are conceivable within the scope of the appended claims. As an example, the abutment member or the shank may be provided with more bores than in the embodiment shown and described for the purpose of allowing the anchor to be adjusted to more than two maximum angles of swinging of the flukes with respect to the shank.

I claim:

1. An anchor comprising a shank, two main flukes, an auxiliary fluke, said main and auxiliary flukes being pivotally connected to the lower end of the shank with the pivot axis at right angles to the shank, the main flukes being in the form of flat plates, the extension of which in one direction substantially coincides with said pivot axis, and said auxiliary fluke extending substantially in a plane parallel to said pivot axis and at right angles to the main flukes, and an abutment member displaceable and securable to different positions on the shank, said member having abutment points adapted to cooperate with corresponding abutment points on the auxiliary fluke to effect different maximum angles of swinging of said main flukes with respect to the shank when said abutment member is displaced towards or away from said pivot axis.

2. An anchor as claimed in claim 1, wherein the main flukes are detachably carried by said auxiliary fluke by means of thickened edge portions of the main flukes, which edge portions are inserted in sleeve-shaped guides provided with axial slots through which the main flukes extend out from said guides in a plane coinciding with said pivot axis.

3. An anchor as claimed in claim 2, characterised in that the pivotal connection between the shank and the flukes comprises a shaft attached to the shank and having its ends extending through openings in said guides and into recesses in said thickened edge portions of the main flukes, the spacing between said guides and the depth of said recesses allowing the shank to be moved towards either main fluke to disengage the shaft from the recess in the other main fluke.

4. An anchor as claimed in claim 3, characterised in that, in the position of use of the anchor, said abutment member extends into the space between the shank and said guide sleeves, so as to prevent lateral movement of the shank with respect to the main flukes.

5. An anchor as claimed in claim 2, wherein there is provided means for securing the main flukes, when removed from said guides, to the shank in a position extending along the shank. 

1. An anchor comprising a shank, two main flukes, an auxiliary fluke, said main and auxiliary flukes being pivotally connected to the lower end of the shank with the pivot axis at right angles to the shank, the main flukes being in the form of flat plates, the extension of which in one direction substantially coincides with said pivot axis, and said auxiliary fluke extending substantially in a plane parallel to said pivot axis and at right angles to the main flukes, and an abutment member displaceable and securable to different positions on the shank, said member having abutment points adapted to cooperate with corresponding abutment points on the auxiliary fluke to effect different maximum angles of swinging of said main flukes with respect to the shank when said abutment member is displaced towards or away from said pivot axis.
 2. An anchor as claimed in claim 1, wherein the main flukes are detachably carried by said auxiliary fluke by means of thickened edge portions of the main flukes, which edge portions are inserted in sleeve-shaped guides provided with axial slots through which the main flukes extend out from said guides in a plane coinciding with said pivot axis.
 3. An anchor as claimed in claim 2, characterised in that the pivotal connection between the shank and the flukes comprises a shaft attached to the shank and having its ends extending through openings in said guides and into recesses in said thickened edge portions of the main flukes, the spacing between said guides and the depth of said recesses allowing the shank to be moved towards either main fluke to disengage the shaft from the recess in the other main fluke.
 4. An anchor as claimed in claim 3, characterised in that, in the position of use of the anchor, said abutment member extends into the space between the shank and said guide sleeves, so as to prevent lateral movement of the shank with respect to the main flukes.
 5. An anchor as claimed in claim 2, wherein there is provided means for securing the main flukes, when removed from said guides, to the shank in a position extending along the shank. 